Quick release harness



June 18, 1946. F. SMITH QUICK RELEASE HARNESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1943 a a, M ww INVENTOR.

FLOYD .SM/ m Juma 18; 946. F. SMITH QUICK RELEASE HARNESS Filed Sept. 29, 1943 3 She'ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FLOYD 5114/ TH WJ/" y.

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QUICKRELEASE HARNESS Filed Sept. 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTUR. FLOYD 5/4/77! A TTOR/VE) Patented June 18, 1946 QUICK RELEASE HARNESS Floyd Smith, Manchester, Conn, assignor to Pioneer Parachute Company, Inc., Manchester, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 29, 1943, Serial No. 504,517

20 Claims. 1

My invention relates to parachute harness of the quick release type and particularly to constructions which are simple and certain in operation and comfortable to the wearer.

Quick release harnesses of the prior art have generally embodied one or more connectors releasably held in place by spring pressed detents. However the means or actuating mechanism for withdrawing these detents have been of intricate construction and embodied numerous close fitting and relatively moving parts. Quick release harnesses also have required departures from conventional parachute harness construction which are uncomfortable to the wearer. Since the barness may be worn in sand storms, rain and mud or subjected to abuse and since it necessarily undergoes severe strains during shock loading of the parachute, the parts often are fouled or bent and therefore jamb or fail to operate properly. The least delay or uncertainty in operation of such mechanism presents extreme hazards to the wearer and may have fatal results especially in war-time or when landings are made in water when it becomes necessary for the wearer to release himself from the harness without delay or interference. It is of course equally essential that the releasing mechanism should not be capable of accidental or premature operation that might cause the wearer to be released from the harness before he has landed.

In accordance with the present invention these difficulties and objections to harnesses and connectors of the prior art are overcome and constructions provided in which the connecting means and releasing mechanism are simple and economical to produce and are easy to operate and substantially incapable of jambing or accidental release. Moreover, the structure is such that if the connecting elements at any one or more points should fail to become disengaged when actuated the remaining connecting elements may still be released.

Certain parts of the harness embodyin my invention may be of conventional type and are capable of variation in form and construction. However, in general I prefer to employ harness embodying a sling with a seat strap having lift webs extending upward therefrom at opposite sides of the wearer. In accordance with my invention a novel structure in the form of a chest piece extends across the wearers chest and is releasably connected to the lift webs at a plurality of points and preferably at points located adjacent the wearers shoulders and the thighs. The fittings by which the chest piece is connected 2 to the lift webs may be fixedly secured in place and the chest piece also may be reinforced with stiff spring members or otherwise to protect the wearer during shock loading of the parachute and retain the lift webs and other parts of the harness in position.

The connectors employed preferably embody spring pressed detents or other releasable elements whereas the actuating means for withdrawing the detents or otherwise releasing the connector elements are of very simple construction and need not include any close fitting elements whatever. Moreover the actuating means may be designed to operate all of the detents simultaneously or successively and by means of a single operating handle.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel quick release harness of simple construction and in which the number of close fitting and relatively movable parts is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of my invention is to provide a harness with connecting elements, spring pressed detents for retaining said elements in engagement and novel actuating mechanism for withdrawing said detents to release the connecting elements.

A further object of my invention is to provide a parachute harness with a novel chest piece for retaining the harness in body engaging position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a parachute harness with a chest piece formed to provide a firm base for a parachute pack.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a parachute harness with connecting elements thereon, a chest piece having retaining means thereon engageable with the connecting elements to hold the harness in body engaging position and actuating mechanism carried by the chest piece and embodying a limited number of relatively movable parts and operable to actuate the retaining means to release the harness from the wearer;

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of a preferred form of harness and chest piece embodying my invention with elements thereof shown in separated position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of one preferred form of chest piece and actuating mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 2 taken on the line 33 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of an alternative form of actuating mechanism embodying my invention, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are each perspectives of further alternative forms of constructions embodying my invention.

In that form of my invention chosen for purposes of illustration in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the harness embodies a sling construction including a seat strap 2 with lift webs 4 and 6 which extend upward from the seat strap at opposite sides of the wearers body. These lift webs extend upward and rearward over the wearers shoulders to the back pack 8 and are provided with adaptors l0 and I2 which engage the lift webs and the back straps l4 and [6 of the harness to adjust the harness to fit wearers of different stature. Leg straps l8 and are attached to the seat strap 2 and provided with connecting elements 22 and 24 which are releasably engageable with connecting elements 26 and 28 secured to the lift webs 4 and 6 by webbing 36 and located adjacent the wearers thigh when the harness is in place. The leg straps are also provided with adaptors 32 for adjusting the length of the leg straps in fitting the harness to the wearer.

In the construction illustrated the connecting elements 22 and 24 on the leg straps are formed with openings 34 therein adapted to fit over the tapered studs 36 formed on the lower connecting elements 26 and 28 on the lift webs. The lift webs 4 and 6 are also provided with upper connecting elements 38 and 40 respectively, each of which is formed with a tapered stud 36 similar to the studs on the connecting elements 26 and 28. The upper connecting elements are fixedly secured to the lift webs by webbing 42 and 44, or otherwise and are located adjacent the wearers shoulders below the adaptors HI and I2.

The studs 36 on the connecting elements are each formed with an opening or recess 46 adapted to receive locking means such as the spring pressed detents and carried by the chest piece 50. As shown, the recesses 46 are in the form of passages through the studs 36 and the detents are arranged to project through the passages to retain the chest piece and harness in body engaging position.

The chest piece 56 maybe formed in various ways but preferably as shown in Fig. 2 it embodies a base 52 of generally rectangular form extending across the wearers chest from one lift web to the other and extending vertically from the lower connecting-elements 26 and 28 to the upper connecting elements 38 and 4B. The chest piece is provided with upper spring pressed detents 54 and 56 adjacent the upper opposite corners, of the base 52 and is provided with lower spring pressed detents 56 and 66 located adjacent the lower opposite corners of the chest piece.

With this construction it will be apparent that the chest piece 56 may be applied to the harness by snapping the upper detent 54 onto the connecting element on lift web 4 and by snapping the opposite upper detent 56 onto the connecting element 46 on lift web 6. The connecting elements on the leg straps may be applied to' the studs 36 on the lower connecting elements 26 and 26 adjacent the wearers thighs and the lower portion of the chest piece may be secured piece.

in place by snapping the lower spring pressed detents 58 and 66 onto the connecting elements 26 and 26 respectively and over the connecting elements 22 and 24 on the leg straps to hold the harness and chest piece in place on the wearer. The spacing of the upper and lower connecting elements and the provision of a relatively wide chest piece 50 which extends between the lift webs 4 and 6 and between the upper and lower fittings serves to provide an extended and comfortable chest protecting structure which is held firmly in place. Furthermore, the chest piece 56 preferably is provided with a frame including a plurality of bowed stiff spring mem bers 62 which extend across the chest piece between the lift webs and are held in position to prevent separation or undesired displacement of the lift webs when the harness and wearer are subjected to shock loading of the parachute. Thus all danger of the harness slipping from the wearer or being drawn forcibly across or over his shoulders or body during shock loading or landing is eliminated so that the harness is comfortable to wear and use and provides the maximum safety for the wearer.

The frame of the chest piece also renders it sufficiently stiff to provide a firm support for a parachute pack which may be an emergency pack or, if desired, may be the only pack used by the wearer. For this purpose the base 52 is provided with marginal portion 64 having eyelets 66 thereon and the pack 68 is provided with similar marginal portions 16 having eyelets 12 therein for lacing or otherwise securing the pack to the chest The pack 68 may be provided with the usual ripcord handle 14 for releasing the parachute from the pack and the Webs 16 which are connected to the suspension lines of the parachute may be provided with connecting elements 18 adapted to be applied to the connecting elements 38 and 46 on the lift webs 4 and 6 of the harness beneath the upper detents 54 and 56 on the chest piece.

With this construction the wide and firm attachment of the pack 68 to the base 52 of the chest piece and the spaced and firm connection of the chest piece to the harness serve to prevent the pack from bouncing or flopping about as the wearer moves around in an aircraft or when escaping therefrom. Furthermore, the pack is held in place so that the rip cord handle 14 is in a convenient position for operation and since the pack cannot move when the rip cord handle is pulled, only a short pull on the handle is necessary to release the parachute.

The mechanism employed for actuating the spring pressed detents or other means used in attaching the chest piece to the harness and for releasing the chest piece therefrom are carried by the chest piece 5!). Numerous forms of detents and actuating mechanism may be employed and typical constructions of this character are shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the base 52 of the chest piece is provided with spring pressed detents 54, 56, 58 and 60 which are located adjacent the four corners of the chest piece and in position to enter the recesses 46 in the studs 36 on the connecting elements. The detents are urged into locking position by springs which hear at one end against the shoulders 84 on the detents. When in projecting positions the detents extend through the passages 46 in the studs 36 and enter the openings 86 in the keepers 88. A shaft 96 connected to the detents extends through the spring housing 82 and is provided on its end with an eye 92 to which actuating means may be connected. I

Typical alternative forms of actuating means for the detents are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 whereas numerous other forms of actuatin means may be employed.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 a plate 94 is secured to the base 52 of the chest piece and is preferably secured over one of the frame members 82 by a stitching 96 or otherwise. The plate 94 is formed with pivot pins 98 about which levers I00 are pivotally movable. One end of each of the levers I08 is connected by a flexible cord I62 or the like to the eye 92 of the upper detents 54 and 58. The opposite end of each of the levers I80 is connected by the cords IM to the inner end I86 of an operating handle I88 which is held in place on the base of the chest piece by a pocket I I0.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the cords I04 are looped over the inner end I08 of the operating handle and have portions H2 which extend to the eyes 92 of the lower detents 58 and 68.

With this construction the handle I98 is located adjacent the upper edge of the chest piece 50 in position to be readily grasped by the wearer and when pulled upward it serves to draw the cords I84 and the cord portions II2 upward. In this way the levers I00 are rocked about the pivots 98 to draw the detents 54 and 58 downward to disengage the studs 38 on the upper connecting elements 38 and 40. At the same time the cord portions II2 serve to retract the detents 58 and 60 so that they disengage the studs 36 on the lower connecting elements 26 and 28. In this way all of the detents are withdrawn from the studs on connecting elements 26, 28, 38 and 48 and the chest piece then is free to drop from the harness freeing the lift webs 4 and E and the leg straps I8 and 20. The harness then is completely disconnected and readily removed from the wearer.

In order to provide a construction which is incapable of premature or accidental operation the chest piece 59 is provided with a cover member IM which extends over and protects the detents and actuating mechanism. This coveris shown as secured to the base 52 of the chest piece by stitching I I8 and extends to the edges of the base but leaves the detents at the corners of the base exposed for application to the connecting elements. The upper portion of the cover member is held in place by snap fasteners I I8 while a top flap I28 extends over the operating handle I08 of the actuating mechanism as shown in Fig. l and is secured in place by snap fasteners I22. The cover thus protects the actuating mechanismfrcm dirt and exposure to injury and protects the handle from exposure to accidental displacement. Moreover, the positioning of the actuating mech-- anism on the inner face of the chest piece and near the central bowed portion of the base of the chest piece assured protection of the actuating mechanism and the relatively moving portions thereof from dirt and injury. 1

In applying the harness and chest piece illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the harness, carrying the back pack 8, is applied to the wearer by slipping the arms beneath the shoulder portions of the crossed back straps I4 and I5. One of the leg straps, say strap I 8, is then pulled forward between the wearers legs and the opening 34 in the connecting element 22 on the leg strap is passed over the stud 36 on the lower connecting element 26 on lift web 4. The detent 58011 the lower inher face of the chest piece is then retracted by pulling on the cord portion H2 connected thereto and when placed to project through the opening 48 in the stud 36 the cord is released to lock the connecting element 22 on the leg strap I8 in place. Thereafter the leg strap 28 is drawn forward between the wearers legs and the connecting element 24 thereon is applied to the stud 36 on the connecting element 28 on the lift web 6 and is locked thereon by the detent fill adjacent the lower edge of the chest piece 58.

The chest piece, thus locked onto the lower connecting elements, is subsequently swung upward and locked to first one and then the other of on upper connecting elements 38 and 40. This is accomplished by pulling on one of the cords IM. to retract the detent, then placing the detent opposite the opening 48 in the stud on the connecting element and releasing the cord to allow the detent to lock the chest piece to the connecting element. When the chest piece is locked to all of the connecting elements the cover member H4 is secured in place by the snap fasteners I I8 and the top flap is drawn forward over the operating handle I08 and secured in place by snap fastener I22.

In releasing the harness from the wearer it is only necessary to unfasten the top flap I20, which may be done during descent, and thereafter the operating handle may be pulled upward as the operator lands. The chest piece and leg straps are thus released from the connecting elements and the harness drops from the wearers shoulders.

The pull on the operating handle draws cords Iil I upward rocking the levers I88 about their pivots 98 to draw the cords IEI2 downward and retract the detents 54 and 58 while the cord portions I I2 are pulled upward to retract the detents 58 and 80. The detents are thus disengaged from the studs 36 on the connecting elements 25, 28, 38 and 4B. The chest piece then is freed from the harness and connecting elements 22 and 24 on the leg straps slip from the tapered studs on the lower connecting elements 26 and 28 on the lift webs. In this way the chest piece is detached completely from the harness and the leg straps and the harness is released from the wearer as soon as the handle I08 is pulled.

In some instances it may be preferable for the chest piece to be attached permanently to one of the lift webs. This may be easily accomplished by omitting one of the upper detents and its operating means and simply stitching the chest piece to the harness. In such constructions only one upper connecting element is used and only three locking detents are employed. Further, if desired the length of the arms of the levers 98 on opposite sides of the pivots may be unequal so that a pull on the cords attached to the operating handle I08 will cause the detents to be retracted successively and in a predetermined order.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 the actuating mechanism employed need not include any levers or other elements of a similar character and the detents may all be actuated directly by cords or other flexible connections. The cords I25 which actuate the upper detents I28 in this construction pass about pulley members I351, whereas the cords I32 which actuate the lower detents I34 pass directly from the operating handle I36 to the lower detents. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the actuating means employed includes a circular plate I38 mounted for rotation on a central stud I46 to which an operating handle I42 is connected. The outer end I44 of handle I42 is located adjacent the upper edge of the chest piece I46 and is normally held in place by the cover flap I48 and snap fasteners I50. However, on raising the flap I48 the handle is available to be grasped and moved in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. to rotate the central circular plate I38.

The plate I38 is provided with links I52 which extend tangentially therefrom to each of the spring pressed detents I54 which retain the connecting elements of the harness, leg straps and chest piece in engagement. Therefore on operation of the plate I38 by the operating handle I42 the links I52 serve to retract the detents to release the connecting elements.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative type of detent construction in which hook shaped upper and lower detents I56 and I58 respectively are slidable in guides I60 carried by the base I62 of the pack which also serves as a chest piece of the construction. The base of the pack is provided with spreader members I64. The detents I56 and I58 are urged into locking position by elastics I66 attached to the base of the chest piece at I68. An operating cord I is connected to the two upper detents I56 and extends across the chest piece adjacent the upper edge thereof in position to be readily grasped to pull the detents I56 upward against the action of the elastics attached thereto to release the upper connecting elements. The lower detents may be pushed downward manually or an operating cord I72 may be connected to the lower detents and extend between the same adjacent the lower edge of the chest piece so as to be readily available to the wearer to retract the lower detents simultaneously to release the chest piece and leg straps from their points of attach ment to the harness.

The operating cords for each of these detents may obviously be disconnected from each other to permit actuation of each detent individually or they may all be connected to a single operating handle to actuate all of the detents simultaneously and in a single operation. Similarly, the detents and elastics of Fig. 6 may be substituted for the spring pressed detents of Figs. 2,

3, 4 and 5. Furthermore, in each of the forms of my invention illustrated the form and shape of the chest piece used, the construction and operation of the connecting element and harness employed and the type of actuating means and its various parts may be varied, interchanged or altered in many respects without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In view thereof it should be understood that the embodiments of my invention shown in the drawings and herein described are intended to be illustrative of typical constructions and adaptations of my invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A parachute harness comprising a chest piece wholly separable from other elements of the harness but engageable therewith to retain the harness in body engaging position, and means carried by said chest piece for connecting and disconnecting the chest piece and said other elements of the harness.

2. A parachute harness comprising webbing having connecting elements carried thereby and positioned to be located adjacent the wearers thighs and adjacent at least one of the wearers shoulders, a chest piece engageable with each of said connecting elements to retain the harness in body engaging position, and means for disconnecting said chest piece from said connecting elements to release the harness from the wearer.

3. A parachute harness comprising webbing having connecting elements carried thereby and positioned to be located adjacent the wearers thighs and adjacent at least one of the wearers shoulders, a chest piece engageable with each of said connecting elements to retain the harness in body engaging position, and means carried by the chest piece for disconnecting said chest piece from said connecting elements to release the harness from the wearer.

4. A parachute harness comprising webbing having connecting elements carried thereby and positioned to be located adjacent the wearers thighs and adjacent at least one of the wearers shoulders, a chest piece engageable with each of said connecting elements to retain the harness in body engaging position, detents carried by the chest piece and movable to retain the chest piece in engagement with said connecting elements, and means for moving said detents out of engagement with said connecting elements to disconnect the chest piece from the other elements of the harness.

5. In a parachute harness, lift webs, a chest piece extending from one lift web to another across the users chest and mechanism for disconnecting said chest piece from at least one of the lift webs, said chest piece having means thereon covering said mechanism to protect the same from exposure or accidental operation, and an operating handle carried by said chest piece and protected by said covering, said handle being movable to operate said actuating means.

6. In a parachute harness, lift webs, a chest piece extending from one lift web to another across the users chest and mechanism for disconnecting said chest piece from at least one of the lift Webs, said mechanism being located adjacent the inner face of said chest piece so as to be protected thereby from exposure or accidental operation.

7. Parachute harness comprising lift webs, and

leg engaging straps, connecting elements carried by said lift webs and leg engaging straps, a member having means thereon for securing a parachute pack thereto and elements carried by said member releasably engaging said connecting elements to retain said harness in body engaging position.

8. Parachute harness comprising lift webs, leg engaging straps, connecting elements carried by said lift webs and leg engaging straps, a chest piece having means thereon for securing a para- .chute pack thereto, and means carried by said chest piece for releasably engaging said connecting elements to retain said harness in body engaging position.

9. Parachute harness comprising lift Webs having connecting elements carried thereby and located adjacent the wearers shoulders, leg engaging straps having connecting elements carried thereby and located adjacent the user's thighs, a chest piece extending across the wearers chest between the lift webs and from points adjacent the wearers shoulders to the thighs and means carried by the chest piece releasably engaging each of said connecting elements to retain the harness in body engaging position.

10. Parachute harness comprising lift webs having connecting elements carried thereby and located adjacent the users shoulders, leg engaging straps having connecting elements carried thereby and located adjacent the users thighs, and a chest piece extending across the wearers chest between the lift webs and embodying stiff spring means for holding said chest piece substantially rigid transversely of the wearer, said chest piece having means carried thereby releasably engaging each of said connecting elements to retain the harness in body engaging position.

11. In combination with a parachute harness having body engaging straps with connecting elements carried thereby, means for releasably retaining said straps in body engaging position comprising a chest piece, detents carried by said chest piece and movable to engage said connecting elements, operating means for retracting said detents from said connecting elements including an operating handle movably carried by said chest piece and located adjacent an edge of the chest piece and means on the chest piece for covering and protecting said operating handle and detents.

12. In combination with a parachute harness having body engaging straps with connecting elements carried thereby, means for releasably retaining said straps in body engaging position comprising a chest piece of generally rectangular form having detents located adjacent corners thereof and engageable with said connecting elements to retain said harness in body engaging position, operating means located adjacent an edge of said chest piece and movable relative thereto, and flexible connection extending from said operating means to said detents.

13. In combination with a parachute harness having body engaging straps with connecting elements carried thereby and located in front of the wearer, means for releasably retaining said straps in body engaging position comprising a chest piece of generally rectangular form, detents carried by the chest piece and located adjacent corners thereof in position to engage said connecting elements, an operating handle movably supported on said chest piece and located adjacent an edge thereof, and flexible connections extending from said handle to said detents to withdraw said detents from said connecting elements.

14. In parachute harness embodying a sling with a seat strap having lift webs connected thereto and extending upward at opposite sides of the wearers body and adjusting means on said lift webs movable to fit the harness to a wearer, means for releasably securing the harness in place on the wearer including fittings fixedly secured to said lift webs below said adjusting means, leg straps connected to said seat strap, other fittings connected to said lift webs and engageable by said seat straps, a chest piece extending across the wearers chest from one of said lift webs to the other, and means on said chest piece releasably engaging all of said fittings to hold the harness in place.

15. In parachute harness embodying a sling with a seat strap having lift webs connected thereto and extending upward at opposite sides of the wearers body and adjusting means on said lift webs movable to fit the harness to a wearer, means for releasably securing the harness in place on the wearer including fittings fixedly secured to said lift webs below said adjusting means, connected to said seat strap, other fittings connected to said lift webs and engageable by said seat straps, a chest piece extending across the wearers chest from one of said liit webs to the other, spring pressed detents carried by said chest piece releasably engaging all oi said fittings to hold the harness in place, and means for retracting said detents to disengage said fittings.

In parachute harness embodying a sling with a seat strap having liit webs connected a1 J 'iding upward at opposite sides of the wea e1 body and adjusting means on a movable to the harness to a wearer, means ior re asably securing the harness in place on the wearer including fittings fixedly secured to said lift webs below said adjusting means, leg straps connected to said seat strap, other fittings connected to said lift webs and engageable by said seat straps, a chest piece extending across the wearers chest from one of said lift webs to the other, spring pressed detents carried by the chest piece and engaging said fittings to hold the harness in place, and a single operating means connected to all of said detents to retract the same and release the chest piece from said fittings.

17. In parachute harness embodying a pair of hit webs, a seat strap and a pair of leg straps each connected at one end to said seat strap, connecting elements on the opposite end of each of said leg straps, a member on each of said lift webs loosely engagea'ble by one of said connecting elements and separable therefrom to release the leg straps, means releasably engageable with the members on said lift webs for holding said connecting elements in engagement with said members, and a single operating member movable to release all of said means.

18. In parachute harness embodying a pair of lift webs, a seat strap and a pair of leg straps each connected at one end to said seat strap, connecting elements on the opposite end of each of said leg straps, a member on each of said lift webs loosely engageable by one of said connecting elements and separable therefrom to release the leg straps, and means extending between said lift webs and having parts releasably engageable with said members on said lift webs for holding said connecting elements in engagement with said members.

19. In parachute harness embodying a pair of lift webs, a seat strap and a pair of leg straps each connected at one end to said seat strap, a connecting element on the opposite end of each leg strap, a member carried by each lift web and loosely engageable by one of said connecting elements, a chest piece extending between said lift webs and having means thereon releasably engaging said members in position to overlie the connecting elements and hold them in engagement with said members.

20. A construction of the character set forth in claim 19 wherein the chest piece is formed to receive a parachute pack.

FLOYD SMITH. 

